Etihad Airways unveils new Special Olympics livery ahead of World Games Abu Dhabi 2019

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - Etihad Airways, the official airline partner of Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019, unveiled a striking new livery at a special event held at its Engineering hangar, to promote the Games which will take place in the nation’s capital between 14 – 21 March.

In celebration
of Abu Dhabi’s national heroes, four Special Olympics athletes will feature on an
Etihad Airways Boeing 787-9 aircraft

The same
aircraft will fly the World Games Flame of Hope from Athens to Abu Dhabi

The livery was unveiled to the delight of the
four athletes who were present to see their images emblazoned across one of the
airline’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. The four UAE athletes include swimmer Omar
Al Shami, runner Hamda Alhosani and bowlers Saleh Almarri and Mariam Al Hosani.
The special decal was designed and printed in-house by the airline’s own
creative team and applied by technicians at Etihad Airways Engineering
facilities in Abu Dhabi.

Robin Kamark, Etihad Airways Chief Commercial Officer,
said: “We are honoured to support the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi
2019 and to unveil this very special new livery in recognition of the greatness
of the Games and in celebration of the achievements, commitment and
determination of the incredible athletes who will participate. This aircraft
will continue to fly long after the Games and is just one of the ways the
legacy will live on. It is our hope that as this aircraft travels the globe, it
will convey a message of hope and inclusion, recognising the UAE’s Year of
Tolerance.”

The Presenting Partner of the Special Olympics
World Games Abu Dhabi 2019, ADNOC, is playing a major role in guaranteeing the
success of the Games. As a valued partner of Etihad Airways, the ADNOC
corporate logo is also featured on the engines of the branded aircraft.

Ghannam Al Mazrouei, Director of the Human
Capital and Administration Directorate at ADNOC, said: “ADNOC is very proud to
be a presenting partner of the Special Olympics World Games. In collaboration
with Etihad Airways today we unveil this livery to raise awareness of Abu Dhabi
and the UAE’s hosting of the Games. The values that define the Special Olympics
movement also define the UAE. This makes the UAE and Abu Dhabi the perfect
hosts for an event that will inspire and empower people and whose legacy will
ensure a real and positive impact for generations to come.”

Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi will be
the largest sports and humanitarian event in the world in 2019. Over 7,500
athletes and 3,000 coaches, representing more than 190 nations, will
participate in 24 officially sanctioned Olympic-style sports in world-class
venues throughout Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

One of these competitors will be young Emirati
swimmer Omar Al Shami, 15, who was delighted to see his image featured so
prominently. Al Shami, who has been part of the Special Olympics UAE team since
2015, has previously won three gold, five silver and five bronze medals through
his participation in Special Olympics Games and various other tournaments. He
is hoping to add more medals to his impressive haul when he competes next
month. Al Shami is a strong advocate for people of determination and looking
ahead to March said:

“As an athlete of determination, I am proud to
have worked with Etihad Airways on the Special Olympics livery campaign. The
positive impact that meaningful partnerships like this have for people of
determination is invaluable and I hope that more companies across the globe
will follow suit.”

With March’s Games quickly
approaching, it is expected that more than 20,000 overseas visitors will join
tens of thousands of spectators from across the UAE to watch what is likely to
be the largest global event ever staged in the UAE capital. Etihad Airways will
fly in athletes, equipment, coaches, dignitaries and the media for the
occasion, supported by Etihad Cargo. Airline staff will be working with the
Special Olympics team to share hospitality expertise in order to deliver the
best possible guest experience.

“This ceremony is a
celebration of our national heroes competing in the UAE national team. We believe
that each one of these initiatives be it sponsorship, today’s livery unveil or
logistics support will come together to make the Games truly incredible”,
continued Mr. Kamark.

Peter Wheeler, Chief Executive
Officer, Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019, said: “Today we recognise
Etihad one of our official partners expressing its support for the upcoming
Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019. With Etihad flying to many
countries around the world, the new livery will help raise awareness of the
upcoming World Games across the globe. By carrying the faces of our athletes on
its aircraft, Etihad are playing an important role in spreading the universal
message of tolerance and inclusion in a creative and impactful way to audiences
in airports and cities around the world.”

In
the coming months, the branded aircraft is scheduled to fly to Amsterdam, Athens,
Barcelona, Brisbane, Jeddah, Kuala Lumpur, Manchester, Riyadh, Shanghai, Tokyo
and Zurich and other destinations on the global network.

The unveiling of the special livery
demonstrates Etihad Airways commitment to the Special Olympics World Games Abu
Dhabi 2019, following previous announcements that the airline would not only
sponsor the event but also launch its very own employee volunteer programme.
Etihad Airways employees who volunteer for the programme will continue to
receive their full salary for up to five days out of the office to volunteer at
the Games in March.